Malin 1-12 Killybegs 1-06
Malin came through a tight first half on Sunday and pulled away in the second to keep their good league run going. Killybegs opened the scoring at Connoly Park when Brendan Maguire pounced on a loose sideline ball across the Malin defence to score in the first minute. Brendan McLaughlin responded right away for the home side with a score from the left. Steven McLaughlin sent Malin ahead shortly after when he ran in from the 45’ at speed to score after good work from Gary Farren under pressure set him away. Anthony Kelly then scored a free after John McLaughlin was fouled when through on goal. Declan Walsh extended the lead for Malin with a point under pressure from the right after good play from Anthony Kelly. Matthew Smith then scored a good point for Killybegs after getting the ball in the midfield before running through the centre to score from 30 yards. Daniel McDaid got his first of the day when he won a ball and after a neat turn to beat his man he shot over the bar. Matthew Byrne added another for the black and amber men with a free from the left after the ball had been touched on the ground. Killybegs got right back in the game five minutes before half time when Christopher Murrin ran onto a breaking ball in the Malin fullback line to score to the keepers left. The fishermen also had a goal chance shortly after when a mix up in the defence from another crossfield ball saw Lafferty save well to his left after a high ball between him and the Killybegs full forward had broken loose. Killybegs were finishing the half strongly and when Brendan Maguire was brought down, Brendan Boyle equalised from the free. Malin, however had the last say in the half and Anthony Kelly landed a long range free from all of forty five yards after Brendan McLaughlin had been brought down to leave the half time score Malin 0-07 Killybegs 1-03.
Terence Coulhoun’s side reemerged for the second half early and whatever he said at half time spurned them into action and even though they were playing against the strong wind in the second half they scored five unanswered points to end the game as a contest. Daniel McDaid opened the scoring from the left and this was followed by a well worked Matthew Byrne score. Byrne scored a free shortly after when the speedy Steven McLaughlin was fouled. Charles Byrne scored from the right after a good run as Malin pulled away. Daniel McDaid then won a high ball in and scored straight over the black spot. McDaid was on form now and scored a good goal past O Hara with a powerful shot to wrap up the game. Killybegs didn’t get on the score sheet until the final ten minutes with Hugh McFadden scoring but his effort along with another consolation from Mark Boyle was too late as Malin geared up for their championship clash with St. Eunan’s in two weeks time.
Malin Team and scorers: Declan Lafferty, Gary Farren, Damien Harkin, Michael McLaughlin, Conor Farren, Declan Walsh (0-01), Charles Byrne(0-01), Michael Byrne, Anthony Kelly(0-02), Steven McLaughlin(0-01), Matthew Byrne(0-03), Brendan McLaughlin (0-01), Paul McLaughlin, Daniel McDaid (1-02), John McLaughlin. Subs: Seamus Houghton for John McLaughlin, Kieran McColgan (0-01) for Conor Farren, John C Doherty
Killybegs Team and scorers: Anthony O’Hara, David Conwell, Enda Murphy, Daniel O’Donnell, John Gallagher, Shane Molly, Niall Carberry, Jason Noctor, Matthew Smith (0-01), Christopher Murrin (1-00), Hugh McFadden, Brendan Boyle(0-02, Charles Tully, Pauric Gallagher, Brendan Maguire(0-01). Subs: Mark Boyle (0-01), Eoin Gallagher, Kevin Martin